Job Description

An exciting opportunity has arisen at Evelina London Children's Hospital for an experienced Paediatric physiotherapist who is passionate about Paediatric & Adolescent Neurodisability with a willingness to upskill in expert orthopaedic spinal management. They will work within an interdisciplinary team in the assessment and management of children and young people with Spinal conditions as part of a regional Paediatric Spinal Orthopaedic Service. They must have excellent communication skills, be able to undertake quality improvement and research projects and be experienced in leadership and clinical education. They must have excellent clinical reasoning and assessment skills, including vetting and triage of referrals.



To work with an extended scope of practice to provide a specialist assessment and treatment service for patients with paediatric spinal conditions and spinal deformity. The service receives referrals from local GPs and works closely with Trust Orthopaedic Spinal and Radiology consultants. This will involve holding physiotherapy led clinics alongside the consultant clinics.



To work as part of the MDT in measuring outcomes following spinal surgery



To provide specialist advice to the paediatric physiotherapy department at Evelina Children's Hospital at Guy's and St Thomas'.



To work alongside the other clinic specialist physiotherapist within the spinal service to support the band 7 physiotherapist in the service, paediatric musculoskeletal service and support the Paediatric Orthotics service.



Key Relationships



Clinical Lead Paediatric Physiotherapist



Paediatric Spinal Orthopaedic Surgeons



Physiotherapists within the trust



Nursing Staff in OP and wards



Admin staff for spinal orthopaedics



Radiology staff



Paediatric orthotists



Evelina London cares for local children in Lambeth and Southwark and provides specialist services across south east England including cardiac, renal and critical care services. We lead a number of specialist service networks aiming to ensure children are treated locally where possible, but have access to specialist expertise when they need it. Our community services include health visiting, school nursing and support for families of children with long-term conditions. The Duchess of Cambridge became the Patron of Evelina London in 2018. Guy's and St Thomas' is firmly committed to meeting the aim of the NHS constitution and providing an equally welcoming to people of all backgrounds, cultures, nationalities and religions. Since 2021 we have included Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals as part of Guys' and St Thomas', coming together with a shared vision for excellence in heart, lung, and critical care medicine and research across King's Health Partners.



Professional / Clinical responsibilities



To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of the practitioner's professional activities



Performs an advanced musculoskeletal spinal assessment of patients including those with highly complex presentations and from this formulates a diagnosis and treatment plan which is carried out as an autonomous practitioner



To interpret and analyse clinical and non-clinical facts, which may be conflicting to regularly provide specialist advice and second opinion to peers, medical colleagues and other health professionals. This includes the formulation of accurate prognoses, recommendation of best course of intervention, and development of comprehensive discharge plans



To request and use the results of specialist investigations (e.g. x-rays, MRI scans and blood tests) to assist the formulation of diagnoses and plan patient management with support from the Spinal Consultants



To develop advanced theoretical and practical knowledge to refer on to other departments/medical colleagues within or outside the Trust as necessary based on investigation results and expert clinical assessment



To undertake the development programme for clinical specialist physiotherapists working with extended scope of practice (ESP) and obtain competency in all aspects of the ESP role



To provide written reports of clinical opinion to medical colleagues as required



To advise patients, carers and education/schools on the appropriate time to return to sports and other activities



To co-ordinate patient management which may include advising patients, carers, relatives, other health professionals and medical colleagues



To provide specialist opinion which contributes to the development of clinical pathways in collaboration with other multidisciplinary team leads



To manage clinical risk within own caseload at all times and ensure clinical risk is effectively managed across the designated department



To be aware of the boundaries of own extended practice, and to manage the associated clinical risk effectively at all times



To demonstrate the highly developed dexterity, co-ordination and palpatory sensory skills necessary for assessment and manual treatment of patients, including complex manual therapy techniques, therapeutic handling and use of specialised physiotherapy equipment